Encapsulating sleeve for headstay of a sailboat

ABSTRACT

The leading edge of a sail, particularly a jib sail of a sailboat, is supported along the length of a headstay by an encapsulating sleeve embracing the headstay and having a through slot along its rear edge through which the cloth at the leading edge of the sail extends. An elongated channel in the sleeve communicates with the aforesaid slot and is shaped to contain and restrainably engage the leading edge or luff of a jib sail, whereby the leading edge of the sail is slidably supported along its entire length within the aforesaid sleeve. The encapsulating sleeve is free to rotate on the headstay, thereby permitting the rotational movement of the leading edge of the sail about the headstay with directional changes of the sailboat and the wind.

United States Patent 1 1 Lagerquist {22} Filed: Jan. 20, 1972 [Zll Appl. No; 219,326

[52] U5. Cl 114/105. 1141102, M41108 {5i 1 Int. Cl i. B631! 9104 [58] Field of Search 1141102407,

114/168, Ill, I12

{56] References Cited UN TED STATES PATENTS 3,658,025 4/1972 Hood et ll4/l05 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS ll4fl02 l 488,432 6/l966 France.......,.-..i.m....

[I ll 3,802,373

45; Apr. 9, 1974 Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Assistant ExaminerStuart M. Goldstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Williamson, Bains & Moore {57] ABSTRACT The leading edge of a sail, particularly a jib sail of a sailboat, is supported along the length of a headstay by an encapsulating sleeve embracing the headstay and having a through slot along its rear edge through which the cloth at the leading edge of the sail extendsw An elongated channel in the sleeve communicates with the aforesaid slot and is shaped to contain and restrainably engage the leading edge or luff of a jib sail, whereby the leading edge of the sail is slidably supported along its entire length within the aforesaid sleeve. The encapsulating sleeve is free to rotate on the headstay, thereby permitting the rotational move ment of the leading edge of the sail about the headstay with directional changes of the sailboat and the wind.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEBAPR 9mm 3802373 saw 1 If 2 ENCAPSULATING SLEEVE FOR HEADSTAY OF A SAILBOAT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One of the factors contributing most significantly to lost efficiency and wind drive in the operation of sailboats is the particular manner of mounting sails, particularly jib sails on a supporting stay. Traditionally, jib sails have been surmort along their upright leading edge of luff on a headstay or forestay by a plurality of vertically spaced snap hooks attached to the leading edge of the sailcloth. This arrangement necessarily creates a series of open spaces along the jib luff between the attachment points to the headstay, with resulting wind turbulence that interferes with smooth airflow over the jib and maximum efficiency under varying wind conditions. Also, such a snap hook attachment of jibs to headstays is cumbersome for changing jibs and requires a mucg longer time for such changes. Safety on a sailboat is greatly enhanced using the encapsulating sleeve to change a jib.

Modified jib mounting arrangements which have been devised, as disclosed in U. 8. Pat. Nos. 2,858,789 and 3,l47,729 have helped to a degree in overcoming these problems, but have fallen short of providing a jib mounted in such a way as to be sufficient for sail handling and operation of the smallest to the largest of jibs for all size sailboats. The headstay mounting arrangement of the latter patent, for example, improves airflow over the jib luff by the use of a continuous flap attachment means between the jib and die headstay, with the folded flap embracing the headstay. However, since the flap which is folded around the headstay or a tube enclosing the headstay, is attached to the jib sailcloth and is thus subjected to the same forces and tension exerted on the jib by wind, jib halyard and jib sheet, it is not feasible to attach very large jibs 1500 sq. ft. or 200 sq. meters) and still handle the sail efficiently. The jib mounting arrangement of this invention has been desigmated with a view towards overcoming all of these difficulties.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The jib sail support device of this invention is particularly characterized by an elongated, self-supporting sleeve enclosing the headstay of a sailboat and supporting the leading edge or luff of a jib sail along its length in such a way as to reduce turbulence along the jib luff, with the sleeve being freely rotatably about the headstay as the angle of approach to the wind changes, thereby providing maximum jib efficiency at all times.

These basic objectives have been realised by utilizing such a self-supporting sleeve, preferably made from plastic, which has a through slot extending longitudinally along one edge thereof, and an elongated channel therein into which the slot opens, the channel being shaped to contain and restrainably engage the leading edge of a jib sail with the salleloth extending through the slot. An elongated passage within the sleeve adjacent its leading edge serves to contain the headstay, and the sleeve is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the headstay.

ln mounting a jib sail, the leading edge of the saidcloth at th head of the sail is slidably guided into the aforesaid elongated channel in the sleeve and is pulled downwardly by the jib halyard attached to the head of the jib sail. Sleeve retainer means securely fastened on the headstay, preferably adjacent the bottom end thereof, serves to hold the sleeve in a desired position of generally vertical adjustment on the headstay.

As a particularly advantageous feature of my jib sail support device, the aforesaid sleeve is formed to an airfoil shape, and has a rounded leading edge opposite the rear edge thereof through which said slot extends. The airfoil shaped sleeve, being in supporting engagement with the luff of the jib said along its entire length, reduces air turbulence along the luff of the jib sail, and smoothly directs air over the jib sail at all times as it freely rotates with the jib under changing wind and boat directions.

The mounting of a jib sail on a headstay utilizing my sleeve device is facilitated by providing a guide boot at the bottom end of the sleeve, the guide boot having a vertically extending guide channel therein and an enlarged mouth opening into the guide channel to receive the leading edge of the head of a jib sail. A vertical slot extending longitudinally along the rear edge of the boot from its mouth to its upper end opens into the boot guide channel for the extension of the cloth of a jib sail therethrough, and is aligned at its upper end with the slot on the rear edge of the sleeve, whereby the leading edge of a jib said may be fed into the mouth of the boot and pulled upwardly through the boot guide channel, and the elongated, luff receiving channel in the sleeve.

These and other objects and advantages of my inven' tion will be readily understood as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like references numerals are used to designate like elements throughout the several views.

BRlEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sailboat having the jib mounting sleeve of this invention installed thereon;

H6. 2 is a horizontal section view of the support sleeve and luff of a jib sail, taken along lines 2-2 of FlG. 1;

P16. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the bottom end of the sleeve and guide boot;

FIG. 4 is a rear, elevation view of the guide boot and bottom of the sleeve; and

FIG. 5 is a section view of the sleeve retainer element taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, 1 have shown in FlG. l a sailboat having a mainsail 1 supported on a mast 2. Forwardly of the mainsail is a jib soil 4 supported on a headstay or forstay 6 secured between the bow of the boat and the top of mast 2. l-leadstay 6 may be in the form of a rod, or a cable as shown. Jib sail 4 is a triangular shaped sailcloth having a leading edge of luff 8 which is secured to headstay 6. The other two edges of jib sail 4 are the rear, upright edge 10 known as the leech, and bottom or foot edge 12. The intersection of these edges of jib sail 4 define the three jib corners known as the head 14 at the top of the jib said, clew 16 at the base of the jib, and tack 18 positioned adjacent the bow of the boat. Headstay 6 is attached to the bow of the boat in a conventional manner at its lower end utilizing a turnbuckle 20 having a clevis 22 attached thereto. Clevis 22 is removably secured to a bracket or stemhead fitting 24 on the bow of the boat by a removable pin connection.

For the purpose of suspending the leading edge or luff 8 of jib sail 4 on headstay 6, I have provided an elongated sleeve 26 which substantially encapsulates or embraces headstay 6. Sleeve 26 is self-supporting, preferably semi-rigid, and may be made from various materials including metal and resins. Preferably, I form sleeve 26 as an extrusion utilizing specially formulated polyvinylchloride as the extrusion material. Such a sleeve is semi-rigid, and possesses sufficient flexibility to be stored and shipped in rolls. It will be appreciated that sleeve 26 can be cut to predetermined lengths for installation on various sizes and types of sailboats having masts of different heights. As is indicated in FIG. 1, sleeve 26 is cut to a length to permit it to extend over substantially the entire length of headstay 6.

As may best be understood by reference to FIG. 2, sleeve 26 includes an elongated passage 28 adjacent the leading edge or nose 26b thereof within which headstay 6 is contained. Located rearwardly of headstay passage 28 is an elongated channel 30 which extends over the entire length of sleeve 26 and is sized and shaped to contain and restrainably engage the leading edge of lufi 8 of jib sail 4. Extending along the length of the rear edge of sleeve 26 opposite leading edge 26 is a trough slit 32 which opens into luff channel 30.

With luff 8 of jib sail 4 slidably contained within luff channel 30 of sleeve 26 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cloth of said 4 adjacent luff 8 will extend through slot 32 into channel 30. In order to form the leading edge or luff 8 of sail 4 so that it can be slidably inserted and contained within luff chamber 30, the front edge of luff 8 is folded back on itself and stitched to the sailcloth of jib sail 4 to provide a cloth tube or channel 34 within which a luff rope 36 is contained. Such an arrangement to provide a suspension or mounting edge at the luff of a jib sail is known. The looped forward edge 34 of luff 8 containing luff rope 36 is sewed to jib sail 4 along the portion thereof designated by reference numeral 35. Located between luff channel 30 and slot 32 in sleeve 26 are a pair of spaced apart, inwardly directed detent shoulders 38 which define therebetween a restricted opening communicating luff passage 30 with slot 32. The restricted opening between detent shoulders 38 is of lesser width than the parallel dimension across the width of luff channel 30, thereby giving channel 30 the shape ofa re-entrant cavity. As clearly appears in FIG. 2, luff rope 36 is ofa predetermined diameter such that the luff 8 of jib sail 4, defined by rope 36 and cloth loop or tunnel 34 will be restrainably engaged by detent shoulders 38 to prevent luff 8 from being pulled out of channel 30 through slot 32. In order to insure that headstay 6 is positively contained within elongated retention members 40 are inserted through aligned apertures 42 in sleeve 26. Iletention members 40 preferably taken the form of roll pins which extend transversely through sleeve 26 between headstay passage 28 and luff channel 30.

To assist in guiding and slidably inserting the head 14 of jib sail 4 into channel 30 of encapsulating sleeve 26, I prefer to utilize a boot 44 at the bottom end of sleeve 26. Guide boot 44 is shown in place at he bottom of sleeve 26 in FIG. 1, and may be best understood by reference to the larger scale views thereof shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Boot 44 could be formed as an integral portion of sleeve 26 on the bottom end thereof. However, I have found it convenient from a manufacturing and assembly standpoint to form boot 44 as a separate assembly comprised of two halves 45 and 46. Althrough various materials may be used to make boot 44, I have found it desirable and satisfactory to injection mold the two boot halves 45 and 46 from a high impact resin. Boot halves 45 and 46 are each formed at their upper ends to include inner, peripheral ribs 48 which fit into receiving slot 50 on opposite sides of the bottom end of encapsulating sleeve 26. Slot 50 is formed around the external, peripheral surface of sleeve 26 in the manner shown in FIG. 3. Boot halves 45 and 46 are held together by a plurality of threaded fasteners 52 (shown in FIG. I) inserted through aligned holes 53, 54, and 55 in the two boot halves. Boot halves 45 and 46 fit over the bottom end of encapsulating sleeve 26, and are rounded at their leading edges 45b and 46b to give boot 44 an airfoil shape to further assist in smoothly directing air over the lower end ofluff 8 ofjib 4 to reduce turbulence.

Boot halves 45 an 46 are of identical shape, one half being the mirror image of the other and the two halves being formed to provide a plurality of passages for headstay 6, and for the luff or leading edge 8 of a sail 4. Extending lengthwise within boot 44 is a generally vertically oriented guide channel 56 which is aligned at its upper end with the bottom of luff channel 30 of sleeve 26. Guide channel 56 expands outwardly at it approaches its bottom end between boot ribs 58 and opposite, downwardly and rearwardly curving boot bottom walls 60. Guide channel 56 thus assumes a generally funnel shaped configuration having an enlarged receiving mouth 62 adjacent its bottom end into which the leading edge of the head of a sail may be guided. Boot halves 45 and 46 are so shaped that when they are fastened together their upright, rear edges 45a and 460 are spaced apart a short distance to define therebetween a vertically extending slot 64 which extends along the rear edge of boot 44, as is clearly shown in the rear elevation veiw of the boot in FIG. 4, from mouth 62 to the upper end of the boot 44. Vertical boot slot 64 opens into boot guide channel 56 and is vertically aligned with slot 32 in encapsulating sleeve 26. Thus, it will be seen that the head of a sail may be threaded or guided into boot channel 56 through mouth 62 and then pulled upwardly with the luff 8 of the sail restrainably contained within sleeve channel 30 and the sailcloth extending through slot 32 and aligned boot slot 64.

Also formed in boot 44 is an elongated, vertically extending passage 66 defined between semi-circular channels in boot halves 45 and 46 to receive and contain the bottom end of headstay 6. As may be noted with reference to FIG. 1, headstay 6 extends through the bottom of boot 44 to its point of connection with turnbuckle 20 utilized for attaching headstay 6 to the bow of a sailboat. In order to positively hold the assembly of sleeve 26 and boot 44 at a desired position of vertical adjustment on headstay 6, to avoid the sliding movement of the sleeve and boot assembly thereon, I utilize a retainer element 68 fastened to the bottom of headstay 6. Retainer element 68 conveniently takes the form of a sphere made up of two half sections 68a and 68b shown held together in FIG. 5 by screws 70. Sphere halves 68a and 68b are fastened around the bottom end of headstay 6 in the manner shown in FIG. 3, and are received within a spherical cavity formed in boot 44 by aligned, complementary hemisphere recesses 72 formed in boot halves 45 and 46. it will be apparent that with boot halves 4S and 46 clamped together around retainer sphere 68, and with boot 44 secured to the lower end of sleeve 26 by the engagement of ribs 48 in sleeve slot 50, the assembly of sleeve 26 and boot 44 will be securely restrained against sliding movement up and down on headstay 6.

in mounting the assembly of encapsulating sleeve 26 and boot 44 on a stay of a sailboat, sleeve 26 is first forced over headstay 6, preferably from the bottom up, with headstay 6 being snapped through slot 32 into elongated sleeve passage 28 as sleeve 26 is forced rearwardly along the length of headstay 6. Roll pins 40 are then put in place in order to maintain hcadstay 6 within passage 28 of sleeve 26. Encapsulating sleeve 26 is then vertically adjusted to the desired height on headstay 6 and held there while boot 44 is attached thereto. Retainer sphere 68 is fastened to headstay 6 below the bottom end of sleeve 26 before boot 44 is installed. Then, boot halves 45 and 46 are clamped over sphere 68 with their locking ribs 48 being snapped into receiving slot 50 on the bottom of sleeve 26. Next, the head 14 of jib sail 4 is guided into mouth 62 of boot 44 and is attached to a jib halyard 72 guided around a pulley 73 at the top of a sailboat mast 2. This is accomplished by using a snap shackle 74 attached to the end of jib halyard 72 and coupled to grommet 76 in the head 14 of jib sail 4 in a conventional manner. Grommet 76 is set rearwardly in the sailcloth of jib 4 a sufficient distance that it will be positioned to the rear of encapsulating sleeve 26 and will not have to be pulled through it. .lib 4 is then hoisted by pulling downwardly on halyard 72, and as this is done the luff 8 of jib sail 4 will be pulled upwardly through channel 38 in sleeve 26. Tack 18 of jib sail 4 is then secured to the bow of the sailboat by a snap shackle 78 coupled through a grommet 80 therein, shackle 78 being coupled through one of the apertures in stemhead fitting 24 in the manner shown in FIG. 1. Jib sheet 82 is attached to claw 16 of jib sail 4 in the conventional manner.

With jib sail 4 raised and set as shown in FIG. 1, the entire length of jib luff 8 will be contained within channel 30 of encapsulating sleeve 26. Thus, there will be no open spaces along the length of luff 8 through which wind can circulate and create turbulence, as is the case with conventional snap hook couplings used to attach the luff of a jib to a headstay. Airfoil shaped sleeve 26 will direct air smoothly across the entire length of luff 8 of jib sail 4. Since self-supporting encapsulating sleeve 26 is a separate member, engaging luff 8 of jib sail 4 only by the line contact of detent shoulders 38 with luff rope 36, sleeve 26 is not unduly restrained by the wind, halyard and jib sheet forces acting on jib sail 4, and is free to rotate on headstay 6. As wind and boat change direction, and the angle of attach of jib sail 4 to the apparent wind changes, sleeve 26 will rotate about the longitudinal axis of headstay 6, carrying luff 8 with it. Thus, at all times the forward length of jib sail 4 just to the rear of luff 8 will extend straight out of the middle of slot 32 of sleeve 26 in alignment with the nose of sleeve 26 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, under all wind and jib adjustment conditions, airfoil shaped sleeve 26 will direct air currents smoothly over the leading edge of jib sail 4, with the elimination of air turbulance that normally exists along this portion of a jib sail. Test results have shown, that, because of the rotation of the jib luff 8 on headstay 6 with encapsulating sleeve 26, the area of maximum pressure differential across the faces of jib sail 4 moves forwardly as the angle of approach of wind to jib increases. This provides the beneficial effect of not turning th boat into the wind with resultant luffing" along the luff 8 of the jib sail with diminished drive, as normally occurs with rearward movement of the area of maximum pressure differential across the jib sail towards the boat rudder with conventional jib mounting arrangements. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that as the area of maximum pressure differential moves rearwardly along the jib said towards the stern of a sailboat closer to the rudder, the boat will tend to turn into the wind because of a lesser moment of force near the forward end of the boat acting counter to the rudder force at the stern of the boat. The forward movement of the area of maximum pressure differential along the jib sail, with changes in angle of approach to the wind, utilizing my encapsulating sleeve support arrangement for a jib sail increases the moment of force acting counter to the rudder force, thereby avoiding turning the bow of the boat into the wind and losing driving force.

As a safety feature, a keeper line 84, preferably a short length of Dacron line, is tied or otherwise secured to snap shackle 74 adjacent head 14 of jib sail 4 and loosely looped around encapsulating sleeve 26. The use of such a keeper line will positively prevent the head 14 of jib sell 4 from pulling out of encapsulating sleeve 26 through slot 32 under extreme conditions of wind force and downward tension along leech edge 10 of jib sail 4, with a resultant downward stripping of the whole length of luff 8 out of encapsulating sleeve 26.

I anticipate that various changes in the size, shape, and construction of my encapsulating sleeve arrangement for supporting the luff a sail may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. in combination with an elongated sailboat headstay having a base end affixed to the sailboat and an upper end attached to the upper end of the mast of the sailboat, a jib sail support member comprising;

an elongated, self-supporting sleeve enclosing said stay and extending lengthwise thereon, said sleeve being rotatably mounted on said stay for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said stay;

a through slot extending longitudinally along one edge of said sleeve;

an elongated channel within said sleeve into which said slot opens, said channel extending longitudinally of said sleeve and having a restricted opening of reduced width communicating with said slot; and

a jib sail having its leading edge slidably contained within said channel and restrainably engaged by said restricted opening.

2. A sailboat stay and sail support member as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said sleeve is airfoil shaped and has a rounded leading edge opposite said slot.

3. A sailboat stay and sail support member as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said sleeve includes an elongated passage adjacent the leading edge thereof within which said stay is contained; and

a plurality of vertically spaced, elongated retention members extending transversely through said sleeve behind said headstay between said elongated passage and said sail channel to hold said stay in said passage.

4. A sailboat stay and sail member as defined in claim 1, and further including:

a sail guide boot at the bottom end of said sleeve having a vertically extending guide channel therein aligned at its upper end with the bottom of said elongated channel in said sleeve;

an enlarged mouth adjacent the bottom of said boot opening into said guide channel to receive the leading edge of the head of a sail, said mouth having a larger cross sectional area than said guide channel; and

a vertically extending slot through said boot extending longitudinally along the rear edge thereof from said mouth to the upper end of said boot, said slot opening into said guide channel for the extension of the cloth of a sail therethrough and being vertically aligned with said slot in said sleeve, whereby the leading edge at the head of a sail may be fed into said mouth of said boot and pulled upwardly through said elongated channel in said sleeve.

5. A sailboat stay and sail support member as defined in claim 4 wherein:

said boot has a cavity therein within which a retainer element is restrainably contained, said retainer element being fastened to said stay and serving to restrain said sleeve and boot against generally vertical, sliding movement on said stay.

6. A sailboat stay and sail support member as defined in claim 1, and further including:

sleeve retainer means fastened on said headstay at one end thereof and restrainably engaging said sleeve to hold said sleeve in a desired position of generally vertical adjustment on said stay.

7. A jib sail support sleeve for a sailboat comprising:

a semi-rigid, elongated sleeve having a through slot extending along substantially the entire length of one edge thereof for extension of the said cloth along the leading edge of a jib sail therethrough;

an elongated channel within said sleeve into which said slot opens, said channel being shaped to contain and restrainably engage the leading edge of a jib sail; and

an elongated passage within said sleeve for containing the headstay of a sailboat, said elongated passage extending longitudinally of said sleeve adjacent the opposite, leading edge of said sleeve from said slot;

a sail guide boot on the bottom end of said sleeve having a vertically extending guide channel aligned at its upper end with the bottom of said elongated channel in said sleeve;

an enlarged mouth adjacent the bottom end of said boot opening into said guide channel to receive the leading edge of a jib sail, said mouth being of greater cross sectional area than said guide channel in said sleeve; and

a slot through said boot extending longitudinally along one edge thereof from said mouth to the upper end of said boot, said slot opening into said guide channel for the extension of the cloth of a jib sail therethrough and being aligned with said slot in said sleeve, whereby the leading edge of a jib sail may be fed into said mouth of said boot and pulled upwardly through said guide channel and said elongated channel in said sleeve.

8. A jib sail support sleeve for a sailboat comprising:

a semi-rigid, elongated sleeve having a through slot extending along substantially the entire length of one edge thereof for extension of the sail cloth along the leading edge of a jib sail therethrough;

an elongated channel within said sleeve into which said slot opens, said channel having a restricted opening of reduced width communicating with said slot to contain and restrainably engage the leading edge of a jib sail;

a separate, elongated passage within said sleeve for containing the headstay of a sailboat, said elongated passage extending longitudinally of said sleeve parallel to said channel adjacent the opposite, leading edge of said sleeve from said slot, and being of reduced cross sectional area in comparison to that of said channel; and

separating means between said channel and said headstay passage projecting transversely of said sleeve.

9. A jib sail support sleeve as defined in claim 8 wherein:

said sleeve is formed from flexible plastic and is sufficiently flexible and resilient to be coiled and stored in rolls and to return to its normal straight shape for use as a jib sail support sleeve.

10. A jib sail support device for a sailboat comprising:

an elongated sleeve structure;

a sail supporting portion of said sleeve structure having a through slot extending along substantially the entire length of one edge thereof for extension of the sail cloth along the leading edge of a sail therethrough, and having an elongated channel into which said slot opens, said channel having a restricted opening of reduced width communicating with said slot to contain and restrainably engage the leading edge of a jib sail;

a headstay containing portion of said sleeve structure having an elongated passage therein for embracing and containing the headstay of a sailboat, said elongated passage extending longitudinally of said sleeve structure parallel to said channel adjacent the opposite edge of said sleeve structure from said slot; and

separating means between said channel and said elongated headstay passage projecting transversely of said sleeve.

II F K mens s s PATENT OFFECE CERTEFICATE 0F (JORRECTEGN Patent No. 3 802, 373 Dated Anril 9 1974 inventol-(x) Rolf E. Lagerquist is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent aid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

and that 3 claim 4, line 9 afterA sailboat stay and sail? auci -support.

In claim 7, line 46, delete "said and insert -sail-.

Signed and seaied this 16th day of September 197i.

New; M. GIBSON, JR. (1. MARSHALL DANN eirtesaing Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. In combination with an elongated sailboat headstay having a base end affixed to the sailboat and an upper end attached to the upper end of the mast of the sailboat, a jib sail support member comprising; an elongated, self-supporting sleeve enclosing said stay and extending lengthwise thereon, said sleeve being rotatably mounted on said stay for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said stay; a through slot extending longitudinally along one edge of said sleeve; an elongated channel within said sleeve into which said slot opens, said channel extending longitudinally of said sleeve and having a restricted opening of reduced width communicating with said slot; and a jib sail having its leading edge slidably contained within said channel and restrainably engaged by said restricted opening.
 2. A sailboat stay and sail support member as defined in claim 1 wherein: said sleeve is airfoil shaped and has a rounded leading edge opposite said slot.
 3. A sailboat stay and sail support member as defined in claim 1 wherein: said sleeve includes an elongated passage adjacent the leading edge thereof within which said stay is contained; and a plurality of vertically spaced, elongated retention members extending transversely through said sleeve behind said headstay between said elongated passage and said sail channel to hold said stay in said passage.
 4. A sailboat stay and sail member as defined in claim 1, and further including: a sail guide boot at the bottom end of said sleeve having a vertically extending guide channel therein aligned at its upper end with the bottom of said elongated channel in said sleeve; an enlarged mouth adjacent the bottom of said boot opening into said guide channel to receive the leading edge of the head of a sail, said mouth having a larger cross sectional area than said guide channel; and a vertically extending slot through said boot extending longitudinally along the rear edge thereof from said mouth to the upper end of said boot, said slot opening into said guide channel for the extension of the cloth of a sail therethrough and being vertically aligned with said slot in said sleeve, whereby the leading edge at the head of a sail may be fed into said mouth of said boot and pulled upwardly through said elongated channel in said sleeve.
 5. A sailboat stay and sail support member as defined in claim 4 wherein: said boot has a cavity therein within which a retainer element is restrainably contained, said retainer element being fastened to said stay and serving to restrain said sleeve and boot against generally vertical, sliding movement on said stay.
 6. A sailboat stay and sail support member as defined in claim 1, and further including: sleeve retainer means fastened on said headstay at one end thereof and restrainably engaging said sleeve to hold said sleeve in a desired position of generally vertical adjustment on said stay.
 7. A jib sail support sleeve for a sailboat comprising: a semi-rigid, elongated sleeve having a through slot extending along substantially the entire length of one edge thereof for extension of the sail cloth along the leading edge of a jib sail therethrough; an elongated channel within said sleeve into which said slot opens, said channel being shaped to contain and restrainably engage the leading edge of a jib sail; and an elongated passage within said sleeve for containing the headstay of a sailboat, said elongated passage extending longitudinally of said sleeve adjacent the opposite, leading edge of said sleeve from said slot; a sail guide boot on the bottom end of said sleeve having a vertically extending guide channel aligned at its upper end with the bottom of said elongated channel in said sleeve; an enlarged mouth adjacent the bottom end of said boot opening into said guide channel to receive the leading edge of a jib sail, said mouth being of greater cross sectional area than said guide channel in said sleeve; and a slot through said boot extending longitudinally along one edge thereof from said mouth to the upper end of said boot, said slot opening into said guide channel for the extension of the cloth of a jib sail therethrough and being aligned with said slot in said sleeve, whereby the leading edge of a jib sail may be fed into said mouth of said boot and pulled upwardly through said guide channel and said elongated channel in said sleeve.
 8. A jib sail support sleeve for a sailboat comprising: a semi-rigid, elongated sleeve having a through slot extending along substantially the entire length of one edge thereof for extension of the sail cloth along the leading edge of a jib sail therethrough; an elongated channel within said sleeve into which said slot opens, said channel having a restricted opening of reduced width communicating with said slot to contain and restrainably engage the leading edge of a jib sail; a separate, elongated passage within said sleeve for containing the headstay of a sailboat, said elongated passage extending longitudinally of said sleeve parallel to said channel adjacent the opposite, leading edge of said sleeve from said slot, and being of reduced cross sectional area in comparison to that of said channel; and separating means between said channel and said headstay passage projecting transversely of said sleeve.
 9. A jib sail support sleeve as defined in claim 8 wherein: said sleeve is formed from flexible plastic and is sufficiently flexible and resilient to be coiled and stored in rolls and to return to its normal straight shape for use as a jib sail support sleeve.
 10. A jib sail support device for a sailboat comprising: an elongated sleeve structure; a sail supporting portion of said sleeve structure having a through slot extending along substantially the entire length of one edge thereof for extension of the sail cloth along the leading edge of a sail therethrough, and having an elongated channel into which said slot opens, said channel having a restricted opening of reduced width communicating with said slot to contain and restrainably engage the leading edge of a jib sail; a headstay containing portion of said sleeve structure having an elongated passage therein for embracing and containing the headstay of a sailboat, said elongated passage extending longitudinally of said sleeve structure parallel to said channel adjacent the opposite edge of said sleeve structure from said slot; and separating means between said channel and said elongated headstay passage projecting transversely of said sleeve. 